Attracting, Developing and Retaining the Best Managers and Employees

Employer branding targets both current and prospective employees

Innovations, changing customer requirements and a strong competitive environment are just some of the reasons we welcome open-minded employees who question the status quo. Our globally established employer brand “Passion to Innovate | Power to Change” describes our work culture and makes clear what we expect of our employees and, at the same time, what we as a company offer them.

We use our employer brand internally to enhance employee committment and externally to position the company on the employment market. Our excellent reputation as an employer is shown by numerous external surveys and awards, including being named best employer in Germany, Brazil and China in 2017.

High level of vocational and ongoing training

To meet the need for skilled employees, Bayer provides sound training in more than 20 different occupations and offers more vocational training places than required to meet its needs. In 2017, 746 young people started a vocational training course at Bayer in Germany alone. In addition, Bayer offers trainee programs in various areas for those embarking on a career and internships for students around the world.

Furthermore, employees in all fields are able to take part in extensive ongoing training opportunities. We bundle our Group-wide continuing education offerings in the Bayer Academy, which offers both continuous professional training and systematic development of managerial employees and has received numerous international awards.

On average, employees at our significant locations of operationSignificant locations of operationA selection of countries that accounted for more than 80% of total Bayer Group sales in 2017 (United States, Germany, China, Brazil, Japan, France, Canada, Italy, Mexico, U.K., India, Spain, Australia, Russia, Switzerland, Poland, Turkey and Argentina) received 23.4 hours of vocational and ongoing training in 2017. In 2017, the average cost of training per employee was €418.

Online Annex: A 1.4.1.1-3

Selected training activities in the countries covered by the global training system, in which we generated approximately 80% of our sales in 2017; the gender-specific averages assume 50% women and 50% men for the United States and Japan as statutory regulations preclude differentiation by gender in these countries.

Employee group

Senior management

28.0

24.4

25.5

Junior management

32.1

27.5

29.5

Specialists

22.4

15.7

18.4

Overall average

25.8

19.5

22.1

Feedback on employee performance

Specific and differentiated feedback forms the basis for positive personal development. Bayer encourages a culture of candid feedback to help employees achieve their individual goals. This is supported by a Group-wide performance management system.

In feedback discussions, employees have the opportunity to receive feedback from their supervisors on fulfillment of their professional and behavioral objectives. This assessment also determines one-third of their variable compensation. In 2017, about 70.6% of our total workforce participated in these feedback discussions. Of the participants, 45% were female and 55% male.

Wide-ranging career opportunities

Thanks to our wide-ranging business activities, we offer employees throughout the Group good opportunities for development. Regular Development Dialogues between employees and supervisors provide an opportunity to discuss the employees’ further career development perspectives. Some 36,112 Development Dialogues were held and documented in 2017. A total of 34% of employees participated in Development Dialogues. Vacancies throughout the Bayer Group, from nonmanagerial right up to management level, are advertised via a globally accessible platform. International assignments are also an important element in employee development. Around 940 employees around the world participated in international assignments in 2017.